Question

GSHardPrelims 2011Modern History

What was the purpose with which Sir William Wedderburn and W. S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893?

Explanation

In 1893, Sir William Wedderburn and W. S. Caine established the Indian Parliamentary Committee in London.

Purpose: The primary objective of the committee was to agitate for Indian political reforms in the British House of Commons. It aimed to act as a pressure group within the British Parliament to draw attention to Indian grievances and advocate for administrative changes.
Key Figures: Sir William Wedderburn (a former ICS officer and twice President of the Indian National Congress) and W.S. Caine worked closely with Dadabhai Naoroji, who was then a member of the British House of Commons, and other British sympathizers of the Indian cause.
Context: During this period, the Indian National Congress sought to influence British public opinion and policy directly in London, leading to the formation of such committees to ensure Indian issues were debated in the imperial legislature.

Why other options are incorrect:

Option B & D: While the Indian National Congress advocated for the Indianization of services and representation, the specific mandate of this 1893 committee was broader political reform in the House of Commons.
Option C: In 1893, the demand for complete 'Independence' had not yet emerged; the focus was on constitutional reforms and self-government within the British Empire.

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